Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the press conference at the Barcelona Grand Prix

Dramatic message for Norris: 'You'll never be a F1 champion'

17:15, 19 Jun

byLudo van Denderen

For McLaren, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are equal; they receive the same parts, updates and no one is favored. At least, that's the official story. According to Ralf Schumacher, that's hardly accurate anymore. Oscar Piastri is the one receiving internal preference, says the German.

Oscar Piastri is the proud leader in the world championship and anyone who sees him work with confidence would undoubtedly say the Australian has now become the major favorite to eventually snag the most important trophy in F1. Lando Norris, long seen as his main challenger, simply makes too many mistakes to claim the crown, believes Ralf Schumacher among others.

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“I think it's pretty much decided internally that Piastri is the man the team is going to focus on,” says the former F1 driver in the Boxengasse podcast from German Sky Sports.

“I have to be honest, Lando shows too many weaknesses, makes too many mistakes in qualifying, also in Canada. And then that silly bump into him (Piastri, editor) from behind. He did apologize, so that shows what a great person he is, but that doesn't count.”

For, as Schumacher concludes: “Great people seldom win titles, that's just the way it is. I'm not happy about it, but I think McLaren has almost made a decision internally. From their point of view, that's tough.”